Howell holds off Tiger to win in Shanghai

Great Britain's David Howell held off Tiger Woods to win the inaugural Champions Tournament by three strokes in Shanghai, China.

Howell fired a 4-under-par 68 to finish on 20-under, erasing the pain of his previous head-to-head battle with the world number one at this year's US Masters.

Woods had to settle for second place in his first official tournament in China after returning a final-round 70 at the $US5 million event, Asia's richest ever.

Great Britain's Nick Dougherty tied for third with Australian Nick O'Hern at 14-under after an eagle at the last gave him a score of 69. Left-hander O'Hern carded a 73.

Woods began the day one shot behind his Ryder Cup rival and it soon became two after Howell birdied the second.

A two-shot swing at the fifth hole, where Woods missed a three-foot par putt and watched Howell tap in for birdie, left the 10-times major winner four strokes adrift.

Howell was pulverised by eventual champion Woods at this year's Masters at Augusta National where they were paired together in the third round.

Woods shot a 65 while Howell slumped to a 76 on his Augusta debut but, though the Englishman briefly faltered by missing short par putts at the eighth and ninth on the final day in Shanghai, he kept his nerve this time.

The 30-year-old calmly sank a 10-foot birdie putt on the par-4 10th to forge three clear and, once Woods bogeyed 16, Howell's third European Tour victory was all but sealed.

Howell, who had led the tournament since Friday's second round, ended a six-year wait for a second European Tour title at the BMW International Open in August.

However, his win at the Champions Tournament, which marked the start of the 2006 European Tour, was the biggest to date for the world number 19, earning him $US830,000.